Jessica Chong
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Because...I Can

4/16/2014

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Florida 70.3
1.2 mi swim 56 mi bike 13.1 mi run
April 13, 2014

Race report: The swim sucked, the bike portion had its rough spots due to winds, and the run was tough...a 3-loop, very open course that wasn't exactly smooth due to construction. I love warm weather and all, but it was flipping HOT. Initially, I wasn't too thrilled about my result, but then I remembered:  

An ideal week for a full-time triathlete: eat, train, sleep, do over. Most days require a double session, so sleep is essential for proper recovery. 

My typical week: eat, 7.5 hours in school, short nap (skip it if I'm having a good day), train, eat late at night, sleep late because I eat late, wake up early and be exhausted because I went to bed late, do over. By default, I make a terrible morning person, so getting in a training session before school is not an option for me. 

Ideal training location for a full-time triathlete: somewhere warm or conducive to consistent and quality triathlon training. Training camps during the pre-season months are also a common practice. 

My training location: east coast...Pennsylvania faced a tough one this past winter, blessing us with nearly 68" of snow. Being one of the longest and coldest one around, it even pissed off some snow lovers. I'm tired enough as it is when I get home from school, so trying to get motivated to go ride in a dreary and windy 20 degrees was a challenge. With limited daylight, riding in the dark was also a norm. My level of motivation for getting in a pool after riding or running in the cold: close to 0. 
Picture
An ideal race weekend scenario: cross the finish line, go to the massage table, change into dry clothes, sit down and enjoy some food and drinks with other athletes, take a shower, maybe take a nap, return to the race site for awards if it's a "payday," enjoy a good dinner, get a good night's sleep, do a recovery spin or swim the next morning, head back home.

My typical race weekend scenario: cross the finish line, grab any food and drinks that look appetizing at the food tent, pack my bike (which takes twice as long because I'm physically drained), go to the airport, stuff my face with yummy airport food, get home after midnight, shower, sleep 4-5 hours if I'm lucky, get to school by 7:15 AM. I'm exhausted.

An ideal job for a full-time triathlete:
 training and racing is their job. They have a strong support system. 

My job: training and racing as a full-time teacher. 

Winter was tough, it's early in the season for an east coaster, and it was my first triathlon for 2014. Top 10 isn't so bad when you're racing against some of the best in the world. It's finally Spring and I've got more sunshine and daylight to play with. I do what I can, when I can, the best I can, because...I can. 

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